New Application Rules for Russian Visas
by Marty R. Milette- Canadian Expat in Russia
Typically, Russians will tighten visa regulations in a direct tit-for-tat response to what other countries do. During the past several years, it has become especially difficult to obtain and use the one-year multi-entry business visa.
Country of Application: Under the new regulations, Canadians are required to apply for all types of Russian visa from either from Canada, or another country they have legal residence in. This means that if you are visiting somewhere else abroad and don’t have legal residence there, but decided you wanted to visit Russia, you would either have to return to your country of legal residence or return to Canada in order to apply. Additionally, you will be without your passport during the application process. (See below.)
Visit Duration Restrictions: Prior to last year, those persons on a one-year multi-entrance business visa were able to enter and leave Russia freely, and to spend as much time (up to the limit of the visa) in Russia. As of last year, there has been a limit placed to restrict any one visit to a maximum of 90 days duration - and a maximum of 180 days per year total. This means that people previously using the visa to effectively ‘live’ in the country (without working) can no longer do so.
The final, and perhaps most problematic change for travellers requiring visits on relatively short notice is the new 15 working day MINIMUM application time for Canadians ONLY. Prior to this latest change, applicants had the choice of levels of service ranging from 14 days to same-day service depending how much you were willing to pay, but according to the http://www.rusemblon.org/
So, in summary, Russian visa regulations have become tighter. There are new restrictions on the country Canadians may apply from, there are new restrictions on in-country stays for all multi-entry business visa holders, and there are special extensions on minimum processing times - the worst of which apply to Canadians only.
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